- PML-N leader says negotiators will talk to PTI and PAT chiefs when their supporters start leaving sit-ins with every passing day
Below expectation participation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers in the sit-ins at Aabpara and Khayaban-e-Suharwardy has led the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to now consider pursuing a wait and watch policy as no effort is visibly being made to woo the beleaguered leaders of the government’s detractors.
However, the timing of the announcement of a verdict by a session judge of Lahore over the Model Town incident has raised some concerns among the ruling party.
“We are better placed now. We have no worries as we have improved our equation with the General Headquarters (GHQ),” a federal minister, requesting anonymity, told Pakistan Today.
The minister said that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq were in touch with PTI chief Imran Khan while Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar was in touch with Dr Tahirul Qadri.
“Under the formula reached mutually, we will make sure that the participants wear out with each passing day. We think that though both Khan and Qadri are fresh now, they will gradually lose the number of supporters. As soon as they start fretting, we will start dialogue with them for a much cheaper deal,” the minister added.
Asked about the justification of his claim, the PML-N leader said that one should remember how Qadri had crumbled during his sit-in staged in March 2013. Pakistan People’ Party (PPP) had given him a face-saving exit on request of his some close aides, he added.
“We are sure that this strategy will work again. Did you observe the demands made by PTI and PAT leaders? They are asking for the moon and if we start a dialogue now they will raise their demands. So, we will break them gradually and given the current weather conditions, the negotiators will make them soften their stances,” he added.
Referring to Khan’s comments, who had said that Allah’s help was coming to his party, the PML-N minister laughed off the statement.
“He will break more and more by each day passing. We will feed them well, we will provide them with drinking water and other facilities but we will not give what they want the resignations they are looking for,” the minister added.
Asked whether the government was concerned over the sessions court’s verdict over the Model Town tragedy, the PML-N leader said the timing of the verdict was “not right”.
“Despite a positive report of the judicial commission over the incident, the timing and the content of the court decision is meaningful. We will challenge this verdict in the higher courts,” the minister said.
Asked whether the government would consider removing the name of former military dictator Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf from the Exit Control List (ECL), the minister said that the prime minister had a very “constructive and improved” relationship with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif.
“Though the army chief is very positive about the PML-N government, there might be some elements within the army who may be working behind the scenes to damage this relationship,” the PML-N leader said, adding that if the government felt it necessary, Musharraf could be given a safe exit.
Meanwhile, a PTI leader also hinted softening of demands by Khan, saying that his party might give in to some of their demands when the dialogue starts.
Moreover, leader of the opposition Syed Khurshid Shah and JI chief Sirajul Haq are set to meet today (Sunday) in Karachi to start deliberations about the modalities for a formal dialogue with PTI.
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